Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LABEL ASSEMBLY WITH ADHESIVE CLOSURE FOR ELASTOMER LOOP
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to labels for use with various
articles (e.g.,
commercial products and other items). In particular, the present disclosure
relates to label
assemblies for use with articles to display information and/or sample items,
and methods of
use thereof.
[0002] It is
known to use an elastic material to affix a label or tag to an item such as
a product package, bottle or the like. In those instances where the item being
tagged has an
irregular shape or if it is desired to bind several items together, the
elastic material is
desirably resilient enough to be placed around the item(s) (e.g., a
watemielon, bunch of
asparagus, large container or other item) yet maintain its labeling function
without
distortion to the label. In many cases, the label may include not only human
detectable
.. indicia, but also machine detectable indicia (e.g., a UPC bar code). In
addition, the label
and its elastic fastening component must be strong enough to stand the rigors
of transport
and handling, and retain itself in position on the item without damage
thereto.
SUMMARY
[0003] An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a label assembly
that
includes a tag portion and an elastic band, where the elastic band includes a
first or
proximal end bonded to the tag portion, a second or distal end. and a bridging
segment
between the first and second ends. The label assembly also includes an
adhesive anchor
bonded to the second end of the elastic band, and configured to adhere to the
tag portion to
form the elastic band into a loop.
[0004] Another
aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a label assembly that
includes an elastic band having a first or proximal end bonded to the tag
portion, a second
or distal end, and a bridging segment between the first and second ends. The
label assembly
also includes a first adhesive anchor bonded to the first end of the elastic
band, and
configured to adhere to an article, and a second adhesive anchor bonded to the
second end
of the elastic band, and configured to adhere to a separate item to suspend
the sample item
from the article.
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[0005] Another
aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method of using a
label assembly. The method includes providing the label assembly having a tag
portion, an
elastic band, and an adhesive anchor, where the elastic band bridges the tag
portion and the
adhesive anchor. The method also includes wrapping the elastic band around an
article, and
adhering the adhesive anchor to the tag portion to provide the wrapped elastic
band as a
loop around the article.
DEFINITIONS
[0006] Unless
otherwise specified, the following temis as used herein have the
meanings provided below:
[0007] The
terms "at least one" and "one or more of" an element are used
interchangeably, and have the same meaning that includes a single element and
a plurality
of the elements, and may also be represented by the suffix "(s)" at the end of
the element.
For example, "at least one article", "one or more articles", and " article(s)"
may be used
interchangeably and have the same meaning.
[0008] The
terms "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention
that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other
embodiments
may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the
recitation
of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are
not
useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the
present
disclosure.
[0009] The
terms "about" and "substantially" are used herein with respect to
measurable values and ranges due to expected variations known to those skilled
in the art
(e.g., limitations and variabilities in measurements).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIIE DRAWINGS
[0010] The
disclosed subject matter will be further explained with reference to the
attached figures, wherein like structure is referred to by like reference
numerals throughout
the several views. In the shown side illustrations, separate layers are
distinguished by
hatching for ease of visibility.
[0011] FIG. lA
is a front perspective view of a label assembly of the present
disclosure secured around an article, which includes an elastic band and a tag
portion, where
the elastic band is formed into a loose-fit loop.
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[0012] FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the label assembly of
FIG. 1A secured
around the article, where the elastic band is formed into a tighter loop
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side illustration of the label assembly of FIG. 1A
in a flat, non-
looped state.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side illustration of a first alternative label assembly,
where the tag
portion is adhered to the elastic band with an adhesive layer.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side illustration a second alternative label
assembly, where the tag
portion is separate and adherable to the elastic band.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side illustration of a third alternative label
assembly, which is
adherable to an article, and to configured to retain a separate sample item.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side illustration of a fourth alternative label
assembly, which is
adherable to an article, and configured to retain a separate sample item on an
opposing side
of the elastic band.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side illustration of a fifth alternative label
assembly, which is
adherable to an article with an extended and shaped adhesive layer.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a front illustration of the fifth alternative label
assembly of FIG. 7.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a front illustration of the fifth alternative label
assembly of FIG. 7
secured to an article and in use with a separate sample item.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a front illustration of a sixth alternative label
assembly, which is
configured to function as a tamper-resistant seal for an article ,and to
retain a separate
sample item.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a side illustration of the sixth alternative label
assembly of FIG.
10.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a front perspective illustration of the sixth
alternative label
assembly of FIG. 10 secured to an article and in use with a separate sample
item.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a front illustration of a seventh alternative label
assembly, which
is configured to function as a tamper-resistant seal for a pair of articles.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a side illustration of the seventh alternative label
assembly of FIG.
13.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a front illustration of the seventh alternative label
assembly of
FIG. 13 secured to a pair of articles.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a front illustration of an eighth alternative label
assembly, which
includes additional adhesive layers for retaining a separate sample item.
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[0028] FIG. 17
is a front view of the eighth alternative label assembly of FIG. 16 in
use with an article and a separate sample item.
[0029] Although
the above-identified figures set forth various features of the
disclosed subject matter, other combinations of features are also
contemplated, as noted in
the disclosure. In all cases, this disclosure presents the disclosed subject
matter by way of
representation and not limitation. It
should be understood that numerous other
modifications and feature combinations can be devised by those skilled in the
art which fall
within the scope and spirit of the principles of this disclosure. It should be
understood that
the figures have not been drawn to scale as it has been necessary to enlarge
certain portions
for clarity of illustration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] In a
first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a label assembly having
a tag portion and an elastic band, where the elastic band is configured to be
looped around
an article (e.g., a commercial product or other item) and adhered to a rear
side of the tag
portion. As discussed below, in other aspects, the tag portion may be omitted
and the label
assembly may be used for a variety of alternative purposes, such as for
suspending separate
sample items from articles.
[0031] FIGS. 1A
and 1B illustrate label assembly 10 secured around article 12,
where article 12 is an example article that label assembly 10 may be used
with, such as, for
example, a live plant stem or twig. However, label assembly 10 may be used
with a variety
of different articles, such as commercial products and other items.
Additionally, label
assembly 10 may be secured around a bundle of multiple articles, such as
bundles of
agricultural produce, writing utensils, and the like.
[0032] As can be appreciated, many articles are less suitable for use with
labeling
tags having expandable loops, as such as those disclosed in Ludlow et al.,
U.S. Patent No.
7,941,953. For instance, an elongated article 12 having enclosed ends may
prevent an
expandable loop from being slid onto the elongated article 12. A good example
of this
scenario is a ladder rung, which is enclosed between a pair of side legs. In
this case, an
expandable loop cannot be slid around the ladder rung due to interference by
the side legs.
[0033] In
comparison, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, label assembly 10 may be
uniquely secured around any suitable article 12, despite the ends of the
article 12 being
blocked. In particular, label assembly 10 includes tag portion 14 (having
front surface 14a
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and rear surface 14b), elastic band 16, and adhesive anchor 18, where elastic
band 16 is
looped around article 12 and adhered to rear surface 14b with adhesive anchor
18, thereby
forming loop 20. This secures label assembly 10 to article 12 in a manner that
prominently
displays front surface 14a (and/or rear surface 14b) of tag portion 14.
[0034] As further shown, loop 20 may be sized large enough to provide a
loose fit
around the article(s). In this case, as shown in FIG. 1A, adhesive anchor 18
of elastic band
16 may be secured to rear surface 1411 in the region of a top end 22 of tag
portion 14, where
tag portion 14 may include top end 22 and an opposing bottom end 24. Securing
adhesive
anchor 18 in the region of top end 22 provides a larger size for loop 20,
thereby providing
the loose fit around article 12 (depending on the dimensions of article 12).
[0035]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, the size of loop 20 may be reduced by
securing adhesive anchor 18 at another region along rear surface 14b, downward
from top
end 22 and closer to bottom end 24. Depending on the dimensions of article 12,
this can
potentially provide a snug fit around article 12, or otherwise reduce the
looseness of loop
20. For ease of discussion, the following disclosure focuses primarily on the
use of label
assembly 10 with a single article (e.g., article 12). However, as mentioned
above, it is
understood that label assembly 10 may also be secured around a bundle of
multiple articles
in the same manner.
[0036] Front
surface 14a of tag portion 14 may include printed indicia, such as
textual indicia, illustrative indicia, machine-readable indicia, and the like.
For instance,
display surface 14a may include product-related information for article 12,
such as a brand
logo, UPC code, safety and use instructions, and the like. If desired, the
rear surface 14b
may also include printed indicia.
[0037] Tag
portion 14 may be produced from any suitable printable material, such
.. as paper-based and/or polymeric materials, and may be a single-layer or
multiple-layer tag.
For the printed indicia, any suitable ink or other printing composition
compatible or
accepted on tag portion 14, in any desired color(s), may be used.
[0038] In some
embodiments, tag portion 14 is produced from one or more paper-
based materials suitable for receiving printed indicia. Many paper-based
materials are
known for their compatibility with printing inks. However, the material for
tag portion 14
is also preferably water resistant so as to not degrade or otherwise deform
when exposed to
water, and is also preferably tough enough to be sufficiently tear resistant
to deter damage
to it from customer handling.
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[0039] In
addition, the printed indicia, particularly any printed machine-readable
info, _______________________________________________________________ mation
(e.g., a bar code), should be sufficiently water resistant to avoid
degradation
when repeatedly subjected to water and washing operations (e.g., as is common
for plant
display at nurseries or produce displays in supermarkets). Accordingly, tag
portion 14
produced from one or more paper-based materials may also include one or more
polymeric
layers configured to protect and reinforce the paper-based materials, and to
protect any
printed indicia. For example, display surface 14a of tag portion 14 may
include a thin film
of water-insoluble, transparent plastic disposed over the indicia to enhance
water and wear
resistance.
[0040] Alternatively, tag portion 14 may be produced from one or more
polymeric
materials that may receive printed indicia, and may be opaque, translucent, or
transparent,
as individual needs may require. Suitable polymers for tag portion 14 include
polystyrenic
thermoplastics, polyolefinic thermoplastics (e.g., polyethylene and
polypropylene),
polyesters, copolymers thereof, blends thereof, and the like.
[0041] The polymeric material(s) may be formulated so that printing inks
are readily
accepted on display surface 14a, and/or treated with special surface
treatments to effect
acceptance of printing inks. The surface treatment may enhance wettability and
adhesion
characteristics of tag portion 14 to printing inks. The polymeric material(s)
of tag portion
14 may also optionally include one or more compatible additives to achieve
coloration,
pacification, resistance to degradation on exposure to seine environments,
improved
impact properties, improved adhesion properties, and the like.
[0042]
Additionally, the material(s) for tag portion 14 are preferably non-elastic,
such that tag portion 14 itself is substantially non-stretchable. This
prevents the printed
indicia on display surface 14a from being distorted by the stretching. It
cannot be
emphasized enough that, in situations where reliable machine-readable
information (e.g.,
UPC codes) is critical, tag portion 14 should be sufficiently non-elastic to
avoid the risk of
unscannable distortion for the machine-readable information.
[0043] In the
shown example, tag portion 14 is provided as a sheet or film-like
member. However, tag portion 14 may alternatively have any suitable
dimensions, which
may vary depending on the particular needs. For example, tag portion 14 may
have
dimensions and shapes that vary along its length, such as a sinusoidal
pattern, widths that
vary along the length, individually-tailored designs (e.g., brand logos), and
the like.
Moreover, tag portion 14 may include cut-out holes with individually-tailored
designs, if
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desired, to further provide information and aesthetic characteristics. In some
embodiments,
tag portion 14 may be foldable and/or include a pocket, such as disclosed in
Heinrichs, IT.S.
Publication No. 2013/0239449.
[0044] Elastic
band 16 includes a proximal end 26 bonded to top end 22 of tag
portion 14, and a distal end 28 opposite of proximal end 26 and bonded to
adhesive anchor
18. Elastic band 16 also includes bridging segment 30 between proximal end 26
and distal
end 28, where bridging segment 30 typically defines the majority of loop 20
when elastic
band 16 is wrapped in a looped orientation.
[0045] Proximal
end 26 of elastic band 16 is conjoined with tag portion 14 along a
relatively flat bonding segment 32. In particular, as best shown in FIG. 2,
flat bonding
segment 28 overlaps with tag portion 12 and may be bonded (e.g., heat sealed)
or otherwise
secured to front surface 14a of tag portion 14. The overlapping region of flat
bonding
segment 28 and front surface 14a of tag portion 14 is preferably sufficient so
that elastic
band 16 does not separate from tag portion 14 during use.
[0046] While illustrated as having a generally rectangular geometry in the
flat state,
bridging segment 30 may alternatively be cut to have dimensions and shapes
that vary along
its length, such as a sinusoidal pattern, widths that vary along the length,
individually-
tailored designs (e.g., brand logos), and the like. Furthemiore, bridging
segment 30 may be
cut to include a variety of different interior holes, such as for individually-
tailored designs.
Various combinations of these different embodiments may also be used to
individually
tailor bridging segment 30 to attain a desired elastic and/or aesthetic
properties.
[0047] Elastic
band 16 may be derived from one or more elastomeric materials
capable of providing elastic characteristics to bridging segment 30. Suitable
elastomeric
materials for elastic band 16 include thermoplastic elastomers, such as
styrenic block co-
polymers (e.g., styrene-butadiene styrene and styrene-ethylene-butylene
styrene), olefinic
elastomers (e.g., ethylene and polypropylene based polyvinyl chloride-based
elastomers,
urethanes, nylon, silicon, and the like).
[0048] The
elastomeric material(s) provide elastic band 16 with sufficient elasticity
such that bridging segment 30 may be stretched from a relaxed state to a
stretched state, and
may contract back from its stretched state to its relaxed state, if desired.
Suitable average
thicknesses for elastic band 16 in its relaxed state range from about 10 mils
to about 50
mils, where bridging segment 30 may be thicker than the segments of elastic
band 16 at
proximal end 26 and distal end 28, as shown in FIG. 2. In alternative
embodiments,
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typically depending on the manufacturing technique used, elastic band 16 may
have a
substantially undo, _________________________________________________ m
thickness across proximal end 26, distal end 28, and bridging segment
30.
[0049] At
distal end 28, adhesive anchor 18 includes support layer 34, adhesive
layer 36, and liner 38. Support layer 34 provides structural integrity to
adhesive anchor 18,
and transfers any potential stretching-based stress loads applied to adhesive
anchor 18
during use. This preserves the adhesive bonds between adhesive anchor 18 and
rear surface
14b when elastic band 16 forms loop 20. Support layer 34 is preferably
produced from one
or more non-elastic materials, such as paper-based materials, polymeric
materials, metallic
materials, and the like, such that support layer 34 is substantially non-
stretchable.
[0050] Examples
of suitable materials for support layer 34 include those discussed
above for tag portion 14, which preferably maintain good interlayer bonds to
distal end 28
of elastic band 16 and to adhesive layer 36. In some embodiments, support
layer 34 may
also be surface treated to increase the interlayer bonds to elastic band 16
and adhesive
layers 36. Suitable average thicknesses for support layer 34 range from about
5 mils to
about 20 mils.
[0051] Adhesive
layer 36 may be produced from one or more adhesive materials
that are suitable for securely adhering adhesive anchor 18 to rear surface 14b
of tag portion
14. Examples of suitable adhesive materials for adhesive layer 14 include
pressure sensitive
adhesives (PSAs) (e.g. hot-melt PSAs), such as those based on acrylic monomers
and
polymers (e.g., bio-based acrylates), block copolymer rubber adhesives,
silicone rubber
adhesives, and the like, which may optionally include one or more additional
tackifying
resins. Suitable average thicknesses for adhesive layer 36 range from about 5
mils to about
mils. As discussed below, in some embodiments, support layer 34 and adhesive
layers
25 36 may be provided together, such as with a label stock.
[0052] Liner 38
is a release liner or other suitable carrier web that is configured to
releasably cover adhesive layers 36 prior to forming loop 20. Liner 38 may be
fabricated
from a paper and/or polymeric web (e.g., a polyolefin and/or polyethylene
terephthalate
web) coated with one or more release agents (e.g., a silicone release
coating). This allows
30 label assembly 10 to be packaged, transported, and stored prior to
forming loop 20. In some
embodiments, liner 38 may extend across the bottom surface of bridging segment
30, and
optionally, also across rear surface 14b of tag portion 14, if desired. These
embodiments
8
-9-
are beneficial for manufacturing and transporting/storing multiple tag
assemblies 10 in roll or
sheet forms.
[0053] Examples of suitable techniques for manufacturing label assembly
10 and
elastic band 16 include those disclosed in Maltas et al., U.S. Patent
Application Publication US
2018/0075783. In some preferred embodiments, the support layer 34, adhesive
layer 36, and liner
38 are provided as a label stock that may undergo subsequent steps for forming
adhesive anchor
18 bonded to distal end 28 of elastic band 16.
[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, distal end 28 of elastic band
16 does not
extend across the entirety of support layer 34, exposing a portion of the
front surface of
support layer 34. This arrangement may be beneficial for relaxing
manufacturing tolerances,
allowing a small amount of registration float to exist when forming elastic
band 16 on support
layer 34. However, in alternative embodiments, elastic band 16 may cover the
entirety of support
layer 34, or even past support layer 34, if desired.
[0055] During use, liner 38 may be removed from adhesive layer 36, as
illustrated
by arrow 40. Elastic band 16 may then be wrapped around one or more articles
(e.g., article 12,
shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), as illustrated by arrow 42, to form loop 20 having
a desired size
(e.g., loose or snug fit). When the desired size is attained, adhesive layer
36 may be adhered to
rear surface 14b of tag portion 14 at the appropriate location to maintain the
desired size for loop
20. This secures distal end 28 of elastic band 16 to tag portion 14 to
maintain elastic band 16 as loop 20 around the article(s), allowing tag
portion 14 to display
information (e.g., indicia) in a prominent manner.
[0056] An interesting aspect of label assembly 10 is the fact that
support layer 34
stiffens adhesive layer 36 in the layer-wise plane that is parallel to a
stretching direction of loop
20. This stiffening prevents adhesive layer 36 from stretching under stress
loads
applied to elastic band 16, such as when loop 20 is small to provide a snug
fit around one or more
articles. In effect, this causes adhesive layer 36 to be substantially non-
elastic (i.e., substantially
non-stretchable), without requiring the use of non-elastic materials in
adhesive layer 36 that could
otherwise dilute the adhesive properties.
[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates alternative label assembly 10, which includes
a second
adhesive anchor 44 having support layer 46 and adhesive layer 48. Suitable
materials and details
for support layer 46 and adhesive layer 48 include those discussed above for
support layer 34 and
adhesive layer 36. In this embodiment, front surface 14a of tag portion 14 may
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be adhered to proximal end 26 of elastic band 16 with adhesive layer 48 to
secure top end
22 of tag portion 14 to elastic band 16.
[0058] As shown
in FIG. 4, in a further alternative embodiment, tag portion 14 may
be separate from elastic band 16, where second adhesive anchor 44 may also
include liner
50, which may function in the same manner as discussed above for liner 38. In
this
embodiment, elastic band 14 may be generically used with a variety of
different and
separate tag portions 14. During use, liner 50 may be removed, as illustrated
by arrow 52,
and front surface 14a (or rear surface 14b) of tag portion 14 may be adhered
to adhesive
layer 48 at any desired location across tag portion 14, as illustrated by
arrow 54. Elastic
band 16 may then be formed into loop 20, as discussed above.
[0059] FIG. 5
illustrates yet another useful embodiment for elastic band 16. In this
embodiment, tag portion 14 may be replaced with a separate item, such as a
separate sample
item 56, allowing elastic band 16 to suspend sample item 56 from an article.
For instance,
during use, liner 38 may be removed and adhesive layer 36 may be adhered to a
primary
article (e.g., a product, not shown). Liner 50 may also be removed and
adhesive layer 48
may be adhered to sample item 56. This allows sample items, such as samples of
a related
product that the producer may wish a consumer to try in combination with the
primary
article adhered to adhesive layer 36.
[0060] FIG. 6
illustrates an alternative arrangement to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 5, where support layer 46 and adhesive layer 48 of adhesive anchor 44 are
oriented on
the front side of elastic band 16. This allows adhesive anchor 44 and proximal
end 26 of
elastic band 16 to remain hidden behind sample item 56 when secured to
together and
suspended from the primary article.
[0061] FIGS. 7-
9 illustrate yet another arrangement this is similar to the opposing-
sided embodiment shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, however, adhesive anchor
18 is
larger in size, and may be shaped accommodate irregular adhesion surfaces. For
instance,
as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, support layer 34 and adhesive layer 36 may be
shaped with
finger members 58, which may wrap around an irregularly-shaped article 12
(shown in FIG.
9) to securely adhere elastic band 16 to the article 12.
[0062] Accordingly, adhesive anchor 18 may be shaped to be accommodate a
variety of different articles, such as bottle handles, pipes, and the like,
while also
prominently displaying sample item 56. Furtheimore, the wrap-around
characteristics of
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finger members 58 allow adhesive layer 36 to be adhered around bundles of
multiple
articles, such as bundles of utensils, to hold the bundle together.
[0063] FIGS. 10-
12 illustrate an embodiment in which adhesive anchor 18 may
function as a tamper-resistant seal for articles (e.g., bottle lid seals),
while adhesive anchor
44 may retain a sample item 56. In particular, as shown in FIG. 10, adhesive
anchor 18 may
include arm members 60 extending substantially perpendicular to the length of
elastic band
16, such that support layer 34 and adhesive layer 36 may foul' a sealable
band. For
example, as shown in FIG. 12, arm members 60 may wrap around a bottle lid 62
of article
12 to form a tamper-resistant seal such that bottle lid 62 may not be removed
without
breaking the seal. This arrangement also allows sample item 56 (or some other
article
attached to elastic band 16, such as, for example, tag portion 14) to be
suspended from
article 12 for display.
[0064] FIGS. 13-
15 illustrate an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-
12, where adhesive anchor 44 includes arm members 64 to also function as a
tamper-
resistant seal for articles (e.g., bottle lid seals). As shown in FIG. 15,
this arrangement
allows a pair of articles 12 to be sealed with adhesive anchors 18 and 44, and
to be
elastically connected by elastic band 16.
[0065] As shown
in FIGS. 16 and 17, in another embodiment, elastic band 16 may
include additional segments 66 and 68, which respectively terminate in
additional adhesive
anchors 70 and 72. Adhesive anchors 70 and 72 may each correspondingly include
a
support layer (not shown), an adhesive layer (referred to as adhesive layers
74 and 76), and
a liner (not shown).
[0066] As shown
in FIG. 17, in this embodiment, elastic band 16 may be wrapped
around article 12 such that adhesive layers 36 and 48 of adhesive anchors 18
and 44 are
adhered to each other. This can secure elastic band 16 around article 12 in a
loose or snug
fit, depending on the loop size and the dimensions of article 12.
Additionally, on the
opposing side of the formed loop, segments 66 and 68 of elastic band 16 may be
folded
towards each such that adhesive layers 74 and 76 face each other. This allows
a sample
item 56 to be suspended from article 12 by adhering adhesive layers 74 and 76
to opposing
sides 56a and 56b of sample item 56, which sides, as shown, may be
substantially parallel.
As can be appreciated, this arrangement can be used to suspend a variety of
different-
shaped sample items 56 from article 12.
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[0067] Although
the present disclosure has been described with reference to several
embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be
made in form
and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
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